Web slack box having a rotatable web accumulator

ABSTRACT

A slack box having a rotatable web accumulator comprising a hub and radially extending partitions mounted for rotation in a vertical plane. The hub and partitions cooperate with side walls or discs to form quandrantal compartments for receiving a web in succession upon rotation of the hub by a hub drive mechanism. A web feeding mechanism gravity feeds the web in random looped fashion successively into each of the compartments as the hub is rotated, and the web feeding rate and hub speed rotation are selected such that each compartment is substantially filled with coils and loops of the web before it is fed into the next adjacent compartment. The web is successively withdrawn from the filled compartments and preferably fed continuously into a web processing device or the like. A sensing mechanism senses the amount of web or the web-filled condition of each of the compartments as it is moved past the sensing mechanism, and in response to a web-filled condition that is higher or greater than a predetermined web-filled condition, stops or disables the hub drive and web-feeding mechanisms for discontinuing web feed into the web accumulator. When sufficient web has been withdrawn from the web-filled compartment so that its web-filled condition is lower or less than the predetermined web-filled condition, the sensing mechanism enables or actuates the web feeding and hub drive mechanisms for feeding web into the rotating web accumulator.

Nielsen (54] WEB SLACK BOX HAVING A ROTATABLE WEB ACCUMULATOR [72]Inventor: LeRoy C. Nielsen, Rochester, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester.N.Y.

[22] Filed: Aug. 4, I971 [2!] Appl. No.: 169,020

[52] US. Cl ..226/ll8 [5 l] Int. Cl. ..B6Sh 17/42 [58] Field olSelrch..226/l I3, H8, H9",

Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Amman! ExaminerGene A. ChurchAlmnu-y-William T. French et al.

I 57 I ABSTRACT A slack box having a rotatable web accumulator com- [45]Sept. 26, 1972 prising a hub and radially extending partitions mountedfor rotation in a vertical plane. The hub and partitions cooperate withside walls or discs to form quandrantal compartments for receiving a webin succession upon rotation of the hub by a hub drive mechanism. A webfeeding mechanism gravity feeds the web in random looped fashionsuccessively into each of the compartments as the hub is rotated, andthe web feeding rate and hub speed rotation are selected such that eachcompartment is substantially filled with coils and loops of the webbefore it is fed into the next adjacent compartment. The web issuccessively withdrawn from the filled compartments and preferably fedcontinuously into a web processing device or the like. A sensingmechanism senses the amount of web or the web-filled condition of eachof the compartments as it is moved past the sensing mechanism, and inresponse to a web-tilled condition that is higher or greater than apredetermined webfilled condition, stops or disables the hub drive andweb-feeding mechanisms for discontinuing web feed into the webaccumulator. When sufficient web has been withdrawn from the web-filledcompartment so that its web-filled condition is lower or less than thepredetermined web-filled condition, the sensing mechanism enables oractuates the web feeding and hub drive mechanisms for feeding web intothe rotating web accumulator.

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BY I

FILM TRANSPORT F/LM PRESSURE A TTORNEY WEB SLACK BOX HAVING A ROTATABLEWEB ACCUMULATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the InventionThis invention relates generally to web handling mechanisms, and morespecifically to a web slack box having a rotatable web accumulator.

2. Description of the Prior Art it is known in the prior art to provideslack boxes for storing web material at the feed and take-oft ends of acontinuously operating machine such as a photographic film processingdevice. This permits intermittently stopping film transport into or outof the device for short periods of time for some purpose such asinspection, splicing, or the like without affecting the continuousoperation of the processing device. One type of slack box for such amachine is shown in German Pat. No. l38,82l comprising one or moresolution-filled tanks into which the film is freely randomly fed inserpentine or looped fashion. Such a slack box is not usable inapplications in which a dry web is stored or accumulated. Another slackbox of this general type receives a freely falling dry web in serpentineor looped fashion, but it is incapable of accumulating a sufficientlength of film without crushing the bottom or lower loops of web due tothe weight of the upper web loops or convolutions. Another well-knowntype of slack box comprises a film supporting elevator mechanism fornormally accumulating the film on rollers rotatably mounted on upper andlower spaced apart, parallel shafts. The upper shaft is fixed, and thelower shaft and rollers form a part of a vertically, reciprocallymovable elevator mechanism. Accordingly, when the film feed into theprocessing device is stopped to permit a splicing operation or the like,the elevator mechanism begins to move upwardly as the film continues tobe withdrawn from the slack box, and when it reaches a predeterminedheight, a switch is activated by any suitable means for enabling oractuating the film-feeding mechanism. Since the film is fed into theslack box at a faster rate than it is withdrawn therefrom, the elevatormechanism will then move downwardly as it accumulates film, and when itreaches a predetermined point where sufficient film has been it willactuate another switch disabling or deactuating the film-feedingmechanism. Although the elevator slack box operates in a satisfactorymanner, it is of relatively complicated construction comprising manyparts that greatly increases problems of assembly, operability andrepair. Accordingly, such slack boxes are expensive to manufacture, andin addition take up a considerable amount of space. Furthermore, in viewof the large number of rollers and loops involved, the force required topull the film through the slack box is relatively high.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved slack box for a web or the like that is capable of accumulatingsuccessive webs of varying widths without requiring any alteration ofthe slack box.

Another object of the invention is to provide a slack box in which theweight of the freely accumulating web loops does not crush the bottom orlower web convolutrons.

Another object of the invention is to provide a slack box havingrotatable compartments for accumulating and supporting a long length offree web without crushing the bottom or lower web convolutions.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved slack box fora web or the like that is capable of storing or accumulating a longlength of web while utilizing a minimum amount of space.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved slack box formaterial such as a web or the like that is of simple design andconstruction, thoroughly reliable in operation, and economical tomanufacture.

The invention and its objects and advantages will become more apparentfrom the detailed description of the preferred embodiment presentedbelow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention includes within its scope aslack box having a rotatable accumulator for storing a continuous webmaterial such as a film or the like. The slack box comprises a rotatablehub and a plurality of radially extending partitions rotatable therewithand cooperating with a pair of spaced side plates or discs to form aplurality of angularly spaced compartments open at the periphery. Thefilm is fed by any suitable film-feeding mechanism into each of the filmcompartments in succession as the hub and partitions are rotated by anysuitable hub drive mechanism. The rate of film feed into eachcompartment and the rotational speed of the hub are properly selectedsuch that each compartment is substantially filled with coils and loopsof film before the film enters the next succeeding compartment. Aretaining rail comprising arcuate plates and/or a plurality of rollersencircles the compartments to prevent the escape of film from thecompartments. A sensing mechanism such as a switch is provided forsensing the amount of film or the film-filled condition of thecompartments as they are moved past the switch. The switch is movable bysome means such as film tension or pressure from a normally closedposition, in which it actuates or enables the film-feeding and hub drivemechanisms, to an open position, in which it deactuates or disables thefilm feeding and hub driving mechanisms. The film tension or pressurefor moving the switch to its open position may result from some meanssuch as film tension or pressure due to the accumulation of a largenumber of compacted coils and loops of film in a film-filledcompartment. After a sufficient length of film has been withdrawn into aprocessor or the like from a rotatable film-filled compartment, the filmtension or pressure is reduced due to the reduction in the number offilm loops or convolutions, and the resultant reduction in thecompaction of the film loops. This reduction in film tension or pressureallows the switch to return to its normally closed position foractuating or enabling the film-feeding and hub drive mechanisms foragain feeding film into the compartments in succession.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING in the detailed description of thepreferred embodiments of the invention presented below, reference ismade to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of one embodiment of a rotatableslack box of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the slack box of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a right end elevational view of the slack box of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic electrical wiring diagram for the slack box.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to the drawings,a horizontal base 6 is shown having a vertically upstanding frame plate8 secured to the base by any suitable means such as welding and/or crossbeams 10 (FIG. 3). A laterally extending stub shaft 12 is secured toplate 8 for rotatably supporting a hub 14 rotatably driven by a motor 16through sprockets 18 on the motor shaft and hub over which a belt 20 istrained as best seen in FIG. 3. A pair of axially spaced circular discs22 are secured by any suitable means to the hub periphery for rotationtherewith, and are provided with radially extending slots 24 (See FIG.I) in alignment with one another for receiving rectangular ribs orpartitions 26 extending between discs 22 (see FIG. 3). The partitions incooperation with hub 14 and discs 22 form quandrantal compartments 28(FIG. 1) for receiving a web such as a film 29. Although only fourcompartments are formed, it should be understood that any other numberof compartments may be provided depending upon the angular spacingbetween slots 24 or partitions 26. The open ends of compartments 28 atthe periphery of the discs are closed off in part at the upper end ofthe slack box by arcuate retaining plates 30 encircling discs 22.Retaining plates 30 are secured to frame 8 by screws extending throughflanges 32 on plates 30. Since the film or film loops rarely engageplates 30 due to gravity acting on the film, there is no appreciabledanger of film emulsion damage due to film slippage between the film andplates 30. The open ends of compartments 28 at the lower end of theslack box are closed off by a plurality of adjacent rollers 34 of thesame or varying sizes rotatably mounted on shafts 36 laterally extendingfrom and secured to frame plate 8 as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. Rollers34 are provided to minimize possible film emulsion damage due tointeraction between the film loops and the rollers caused by filmpressure and gravity. If desired, rollers 34 preferably formed fromTeflon or the like may be provided around the entire periphery of discs22.

Any suitable web-like material such as film 29 received from a filmsupply, not shown, is fed through a gate 38 (FIG. 1) in or betweenadjacent retaining plates 30 into a film compartment 28 by any suitablefriction drive roller 40 over which the non-emulsion or base side offilm 29 is trained. The film is held in driving engagement with driveroller 40 by a grooved pressure roller 42 rotatably mounted at one endof a pivotal lever 44 and biased into engagement with roller 40 by aspring 46. Tile grooved periphery of roller 42 registers with the filmemulsion and prevents damage thereto. The drive roller 40 is mounted ona shaft 48 journaled in frame 8 and driven by a motor 50 through anysuitable drive coupling 54 as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. Motor 50 ismounted on a shelf 52 secured by welding or the like to frame 8. Tl-ledrive roller 50 is driven to feed film 29 into film compartments 28 insuccession at a predetermined rate in relation to the rotational speedof hub 14 such that the compartment 28 in register with gate 38 will befilled to a predetermined web-filled condition as the next succeedingempty compartment is moved into alignment with the gate. To preventdamage to the film as it moves from a filled compartment to an adjacentempty compartment, the discs 22 rotatably support rollers 56 adjacentthe end of each of the radially extending partitions 26 over which thefilm 29 passes.

One of the retaining plates 30 is further provided with an exit slot 58through which the film is withdrawn or removed from the slack box,trained over one or more rollers 60, and fed continuously into a filmprocessing device or the like, not shown. A sensing mechanism of anysuitable type is provided for sensing the film-filled condition of acompartment 28, and in response thereto controlling the operation of thehub and film-feed drive motors 16, 50 respectively. The sensingmechanism may be of any suitable known type such as a photosensitivesensor, or a fluidic sensor, or the like, and is shown in this inventionas a switch 62 (FIG. 1) interposed adjacent two of the retaining rollers34, and having an actuator arm 64 extending radially inwardly betweendiscs 22 and into a compartment 28. The switch 62 is inherently biasedby any suitable expansion spring 65 (FIG. 4) to a normally closed or on"position as illustrated schematically in FlG. l in which it completes apower circuit to the hub and film feed drive motors 16, 50 respectivelyfor actuating or enabling the motors 16, 50 for simultaneously rotatinghub 14 and compartments 28, and roller 40 for feeding film 29 into acompartment. When a film-filled compartment of film is moved past switcharm 64, the closely packed coils and loops of film have sufficientweight, rigidity and pressure to move switch arm 64 against the bias ofcompression spring 65 for moving the contacts of switch 62 to their openor "off" position. In this position the electrical circuit to hub andfilm-feed drive motors 16, 50 respectively is broken for deactuating ordisabling the motors so that the compartments cease to rotate and nofilm is fed into a compartment 28. Film 29 continues to be withdrawnfrom the slack box into the processor, and when a sufficient length offilm has been withdrawn from the film-filled compartment, the film coilsand loops therein gradually lose their pressure or tension as theybecome enlarged and reduced in number until such pressure is less thanthe force exerted by spring 65. Accordingly, switch arm 64 is returnedby spring 65 to its normal position closing switch contacts 62 forenabling the drive motors 16, 50 for again simultaneously rotatablydriving the compartments and feeding film into a compartment in timedrelation thereto.

Although hub 14, discs 22 and partitions 26 rotate as a unit within theencircling retaining plates 30 and rollers 34, it is possible to modifythe slack box by providing rigid discs or plates 22 secured to frame 8,and having hub 14 provided with radially extending partitions 26 securedthereto, and the hub and partitions rotatable as a unit between thediscs. In such a modification, retaining plates 30 and rollers 34 wouldbe arranged to encircle partitions 26 and could be secured to one orboth of the discs 22. Rollers 56 could be rotatably mounted at the endof each partition to support film and prevent damage thereto as the filmpasses from one compartment to another.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference toa preferred embodiment thereof. but it will be understood thatvariations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scopeof the invention as described hereinabove.

I claim:

1. in a slack box for accumulating a web, the combination comprising:

web accumulating means having a plurality of adacent compartments;

means for feeding a web into one of said compartments;

means for moving said compartments in succession past and in timedrelation to said web-feeding means for filling each of said compartmentsto a predetermined web-filled condition; and

means coupled to said web-accumulating means and said web-feeding meansfor sensing the web-filled condition of each of said compartments insuccession, and in response to the sensing disabling said web-feedingmeans and said web-accumulating moving means when the web-filledcondition of said sensed compartment is substantially equal to orgreater than said predetermined web-filled condition, and enabling saidweb-feeding means and said web-accumulating moving means when theweb-filled condition of said sensed compartment is less than saidpredetermined web-filled condition.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said compartments arerotatable, and said moving means imparts rotation to said compartments.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said web-accumulatingmeans comprises a rotatable member having a plurality of radiallyextending, angularly spaced partitions cooperating therewith to form aplurality of compartments.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said web-accumulatingmeans comprises a rotatable member having circular spaced discs, and aplurality of radially extending, angularly spaced partitions betweensaid discs cooperating with said member and said discs to form aplurality of compartments.

5. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said web-accumulatingmeans comprises a rotatable member having circular spaced discs, and aplurality of radially extending, angularly spaced partitions betweensaid discs cooperating with said member and said discs to form aplurality of compartments, and web-retaining means encircling theperiphery of said discs.

6. The invention according to claim 5 wherein said web-retaining meansis provided with a web inlet and a web outlet, and comprises an arcuateplate encircling a portion of the periphery of said discs, and aplurality of adjacent rollers encircling the remainder of the peripheryof said discs.

7. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said sensing meanscomprises an electrical switch having an actuator arm extending into acompartment and responsive to the web pressure therein for movement froma normally closed position to an open position for disabling saidweb-feeding means and said compartment moving means.

8. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said sensing meanscomprises an electrical switch movable between pen and closed positimsand in circuit with said webeedmg means and sal compartment movmg means,said switch having an actuator arm extending into a compartment andresponsive to the web pressure for movement between a normally closedposition enabling said web-feeding means and said compartment movingmeans and an open position disabling said web-feeding means and saidcompartment moving means.

9. In a slack box for accumulating a web, the combination comprising:

web-accumulating means having a plurality of adjacent compartments;

means for feeding a web into one of said compartments;

means for moving said compartments in timed relation to said web-feedingmeans for filling each of said compartments in succession;

switch means responsive to the web pressure in one of said web-filledcompartments for movement from a normal closed position for enablingsaid web-feeding means and said compartment moving means, to an openposition for disabling said webfeeding means and said compartment movingmeans; and

means for withdrawing the web from said one webfilled compartment untilthe web pressure in said one web-filled compartment is reduced causingsaid switch means to be moved to its closed position.

10. The invention according to claim 9 wherein said compartments arerotatable, and said compartment moving means imparts rotation to saidcompartments.

1]. The invention according to claim 9 wherein said web-accumulatingmeans comprises a rotatable member having a plurality of radiallyextending, angularly spaced partitions cooperating therewith to form aplurality of compartments.

12. The invention according to claim 9 wherein said web-accumulatingmeans comprises a rotatable member having circular spaced discs and aplurality of radially extending, angularly spaced partitions betweensaid discs and cooperating with said member and said discs to form aplurality of compartments.

13. The invention according to claim 9 wherein said web-accumulatingmeans comprises a rotatable member having circular spaced discs and aplurality of radially extending, angularly spaced partitions betweensaid discs and cooperating with said member and said discs to form aplurality of compartments, and webretaining means encircling theperiphery of said discs.

14. The invention according to claim 13 wherein said webretaining meansis provided with a web inlet and a web outlet, and comprises an arcuateplate encircling a portion of the periphery of said discs, and aplurality of adjacent rollers encircling the remainder of the peripheryof said discs.

1. In a slack box for accumulating a web, the combination comprising:web accumulating means having a plurality of adjacent compartments;means for feeding a web into one of said compartments; means for movingsaid compartments in succession past and in timed relation to saidweb-feeding means for filling each of said compartments to apredetermined web-filled condition; and means coupled to saidweb-accumulating means and said webfeeding means for sensing theweb-filled condition of each of said compartments in succession, and inresponse to the sensing disabling said web-feeding means and saidweb-accumulating moving means when the web-filled conDition of saidsensed compartment is substantially equal to or greater than saidpredetermined web-filled condition, and enabling said webfeeding meansand said web-accumulating moving means when the web-filled condition ofsaid sensed compartment is less than said predetermined web-filledcondition.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein saidcompartments are rotatable, and said moving means imparts rotation tosaid compartments.
 3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein saidweb-accumulating means comprises a rotatable member having a pluralityof radially extending, angularly spaced partitions cooperating therewithto form a plurality of compartments.
 4. The invention according to claim1 wherein said web-accumulating means comprises a rotatable memberhaving circular spaced discs, and a plurality of radially extending,angularly spaced partitions between said discs cooperating with saidmember and said discs to form a plurality of compartments.
 5. Theinvention according to claim 1 wherein said web-accumulating meanscomprises a rotatable member having circular spaced discs, and aplurality of radially extending, angularly spaced partitions betweensaid discs cooperating with said member and said discs to form aplurality of compartments, and web-retaining means encircling theperiphery of said discs.
 6. The invention according to claim 5 whereinsaid web-retaining means is provided with a web inlet and a web outlet,and comprises an arcuate plate encircling a portion of the periphery ofsaid discs, and a plurality of adjacent rollers encircling the remainderof the periphery of said discs.
 7. The invention according to claim 1wherein said sensing means comprises an electrical switch having anactuator arm extending into a compartment and responsive to the webpressure therein for movement from a normally closed position to an openposition for disabling said web-feeding means and said compartmentmoving means.
 8. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said sensingmeans comprises an electrical switch movable between open and closedpositions and in circuit with said web-feeding means and saidcompartment moving means, said switch having an actuator arm extendinginto a compartment and responsive to the web pressure for movementbetween a normally closed position enabling said web-feeding means andsaid compartment moving means and an open position disabling saidweb-feeding means and said compartment moving means.
 9. In a slack boxfor accumulating a web, the combination comprising: web-accumulatingmeans having a plurality of adjacent compartments; means for feeding aweb into one of said compartments; means for moving said compartments intimed relation to said web-feeding means for filling each of saidcompartments in succession; switch means responsive to the web pressurein one of said web-filled compartments for movement from a normal closedposition for enabling said web-feeding means and said compartment movingmeans, to an open position for disabling said web-feeding means and saidcompartment moving means; and means for withdrawing the web from saidone web-filled compartment until the web pressure in said one web-filledcompartment is reduced causing said switch means to be moved to itsclosed position.
 10. The invention according to claim 9 wherein saidcompartments are rotatable, and said compartment moving means impartsrotation to said compartments.
 11. The invention according to claim 9wherein said web-accumulating means comprises a rotatable member havinga plurality of radially extending, angularly spaced partitionscooperating therewith to form a plurality of compartments.
 12. Theinvention according to claim 9 wherein said web-accumulating meanscomprises a rotatable member having circular spaced discs and aplurality of radially extending, angularly spaced partitions betweensaid discs and cooperating with said member and said discs to form aplurality of compartments.
 13. The invention according to claim 9wherein said web-accumulating means comprises a rotatable member havingcircular spaced discs and a plurality of radially extending, angularlyspaced partitions between said discs and cooperating with said memberand said discs to form a plurality of compartments, and web-retainingmeans encircling the periphery of said discs.
 14. The inventionaccording to claim 13 wherein said web-retaining means is provided witha web inlet and a web outlet, and comprises an arcuate plate encirclinga portion of the periphery of said discs, and a plurality of adjacentrollers encircling the remainder of the periphery of said discs.